FOUNDER'S MEMORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 88, 9 July 1943, Page 5

FOUNDER'S MEMORY

INSPIRING UNVEILING CEREMONY LARGE GATHEkING AT PAPER MILLS LATE MR H. A. HORROCKS Something of the esteem and widespread admiration in which the late Mr H. A. Horrocks was held' by businessmen, industrialists and executives throughout the Dominion and beyond could be gleaned from the representative gathering which attended the unveiling of the handsome -memoriaL block and bronze plaque at the Whakatane Paper -Mills yesterday morning. Members of the Company's Director--ate, shareholders and officials -and staff joined in reverent tribute with visitors from all parts, to the memory of the man who first conceived the' vast in•dustrial project which was destined to grow into the Paper Mills as we know them to-day. i;n spite ol" tlic wot and broken Aveather conditions, approximately live hundred gathered to attend the unveiling which was- performed by Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., following ail appropriate address by Mr G. H. Mackley, the Company's Managing Director, the full text ol' which •appears on page 8. The entire assemblage together with the Whakatane Boys Band was -nccommodated in a substantial marquee which had been erected opposite the memorial. From the hundreds of apologies for absenec Avhich had been receiv--ed Mr Macklcy read a number of tributes to their late colleague, which were typical of them all. Mr W. Sullivanfs Remarks "Before performing the actual *«ercmony of unveiling this memorial to the Founder of "the. Pulp Paper Industry in this Dominion,, let .me say how whole, hcarted.ly I -agree with the remarks made by Mr Mackley concerning the late Mr -Horrocks," said Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., addressing the crowd. "To the residents of Whakatane, in fact to the people of the whole Bay of Plenty, the iirst pegging of the Mill _site here, gave: no hint of the immense industrial undertaking, which lias since taken shape."

Many difficulties were encountered, he said, many problems had to be overcome, many of them seemed . impossible 1 ,- but by courage and perseverance the late Mr Horrocks had .successfully established this great industry. All through the pioneering stage he showed great faith and courage in adversity, and it was be--cause of the succcss had crowned, his effort that, they had come together to honour his memory* He maintained that the greatest memorial had already been erected; in the lorm of the Mill, successfully in operation, and out beyond, the great plantations that fed it. The. establishment of the plantations, the •construction of the train line,, the machinery required to operate the Mill were all a great achievement, .and demonstrated the vision of the man who conceived the idea and established the industiy.

Great National Service ! The Whakatane Papcv Mi lis Lini-j Ited were to-day performing a great National service, supplying as it did, practically the whole of the Do.minion's, board requirements. We -could well imagine the position our -country would be in at the present time if it were not for the supply from the Mill. That, the efforts: of. the late Mr Horrocks were known far beyond the Bay of' Plenty was evidenced by the attendance of friends from far -and near and his efforts would be remembered with warm and kindly feelings of affection so long as the Mill continued to serve mankind. Here was a man imbued, with that very spirit which made the Empire what it is to-day, and what it stood for. A man who like his forebears •was not afraid to dream and plan, then to work so that his dreams might be realised. In spite of the •objections and opposition to his initial effort, he had succeeded. His success had brought additional 'wealth to his fellowmen, to his and to this part of our 'Great Empire. , A Blaze of Floorers Mr Sullivan then performed the "Unveiling after whicli dozens of Avreaths. were laid about the base -of the monument by those who had brought them, till it glowed "with r cblotrr. This grsiurc was performed' to tbg tiotes of the tvcll • CCtafttfiUied i* *sxt *©|6mh)

funereal air "A Garland of Flowers" played by the band. Hymns sung by the assemblage were Kipling's Recessional "God of OTir Fathers" and. "Abide With Me." The whole ceremony took on a deep and reverent note Avhich was fittingly dedicated to one who had played the major part in the founding of a new and great industry. THE MONUMENT SIMPLE AND ATTRACTIVE { Set in the lawns which flank the eastern side of the main drive to the Mills,, the. monument is in itself as neat, as it is simple and appropriate. A narrow marble approach leads to the compact shouldered block of polished terazzo approximately I] feet lvigh. The central panel frames the bronze plaque which shows in profile the late founder of the Mill whose name is engraved beneath. On the top a raised bronze panel slanting across the main face is, also inscribed and reads as follows:— Henry Alexander Horrocks Erected to the memory of founder of the mill and first Managing 1 Director. "The struggle, of to-day, is not altogether for to-day—it is for a vast future also." Abraham Lincoln. Speaking of its appropriatness Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., in his remarks said:— "1 feel the Directors of the Company are to be congratulated upon their decision to erect this headstone to the memory of their late esteemed Managing Director, and I; feel you will agree "with me ladies and gentlemen that their choice of location of the Memorial is indeed appropriate, placed as it is here within the' Mill entrance for all to see., employees and visitors alike, and as a perpetual reminder both as they come and as they go l t>n their way that here; lies one of >vhom the country and indeed the nation may well be proud-—one of the great industrialists of his age who* by his courage and vision was responsible for an industry which cannot but be of enduring advantage t.a this : fair Dominion of -ours now and In the ywfctfr £«<§£*&

stop in front of him but as he had puLled up opposite a pedestrian had thought that he desired to talk or accost him. He was completely unaware of the fact that he was at fault. The Magistrate observed that the inspector would be in uniform, and it would therefore be hard to mistake his intention. On the first two charges of speeding defendant would be lined £3 each and costs 30s, whilst on the. third (failing to stop) he would be lined £5 and costs 30s. Unlighted' Bicycles The Transport Department proceeded against Edward William Allen, Maurice George Jensen and Herbert Francis Bach lor riding bicycles without regulation lights after sunset. Each was lined os and costs 12s. No Certificate of Fitness Tarei Te, Ratana who was charged with being the owner of a car without a certificate of fitness failed to appear. The Inspector stated that the defendant had been warned about the matter before, as far back as January, 1941, but had taken no steps to procure the certificate. Fined £2 and costs 335. Unregistered Trailer Ihe County Traffic Inspector gave evidence against Geo. W. Whiteside (Mr Barry) who admitted being the owner of an unregistered trailer which lie was using on May 17 last. Counsel said that defendant was unaware of the necessity to register the trailer and had since, done so. As the cost of registration was only 7s he submitted that the offence was not deliberate.. Convicted and ordered to pay costs 375.